Chapter 225

At this time, Guo Jia, Lu Xun, Taishi Ci, Zhang Fei, and Gan Ning, who was still lingering, all arrived.

Liu Bei greeted everyone.

"Since everyone is here, let us listen to Pang Shiyuan analyze the things we need to do next."

Pang Tong knew that Liu Bei was giving him a chance to show off in front of everyone.

He cleared his throat.

"Jingzhou has accepted many famous scholars from the north. Since my Lord is staying in Jingzhou for a month, naturally, you should recruit more talent and become familiar with the local Jingzhou gentry."

Guo Jia nodded. Building good relationships with the local gentry would make entering Jingzhou in the future much easier.

Pang Tong handed over a bamboo slip.

"My Lord, this is the list of relationships among the Jingzhou gentry I have prepared, along with suggestions for talent to recruit."

Liu Bei was startled.

"Pang Shiyuan was prepared in advance. Truly a great talent."

He picked up the bamboo slip and read it. It clearly detailed the relationships among the major Jingzhou gentry, the relationship between the Huang and Cai families, the Kuai, Ma, Yang families, and so on.

Following that was a list:

Nanyang Commandery: Huang Zhong, Li Yan, Lü Chang, Fu Tong.

Xiangyang: Gan Ning, Xiang Lang, Xi Hong, Xi Zhen.

Nan Commandery: Feng Xi, Huo Jun, and so on.

Cui Cui Zhouping and others were also on the list, which also detailed their personal preferences and so on.

Liu Bei sighed deeply.

"With Pang Shiyuan's help, this is excellent!"

Dong Yun, Yang Yi, Zhen Jiang Wan, Pan Jun, and others were still too young, so they were naturally not on the list.

Liu Bei showed Pang Tong's bamboo slip to everyone.

Guo Jia praised it.

"Originally, we were unfamiliar with Jingzhou. With the contents of this bamboo slip, we don't need to 'feel for stones to cross the river.' Pang Shiyuan is truly a great talent!"

Pang Tong hurriedly expressed his humility. Guo Jia was full of brilliant strategies and had followed Liu Bei for a long time; Pang Tong respected him greatly.

Taishi Ci and Lu Xun both expressed that Mr. Pang was a great talent!

Zhang Fei was very close to Pang Tong.

"Pang Pang Shiyuan, since you are so talented, you must drink more tonight!"

Guo Jia was somewhat puzzled.

"Pang Shiyuan, I can understand the others, but this Zhuge Zhang Liang you placed at the top—who is he?"

Pang Tong cupped his hands.

"Zhuge Zhang Liang, courtesy name Kongming, is from Langya Commandery. He is currently farming and living in seclusion in Longzhong. He is my good friend. This man has the talent to govern the world; I am not his equal."

Zhang Fei was stunned.

"A village farmer? Is he that good?"

Everyone was somewhat puzzled.

Liu Bei naturally knew Zhuge Zhang Liang's talent. As a strategist, he might not be better than Guo Jia, but in terms of strategy, internal affairs, and command, he surpassed Guo Jia.

Liu Bei smiled.

"Let us not discuss Zhuge Kongming for now. Send invitations to everyone else on the list and invite them to come here and drink with me."

"Yes!"

In Caiyang County, the city gate captain Wei Yan finished his day's work and planned to go home to eat.

A soldier found him.

"Captain, someone claiming to be Lord Liu Xuande's messenger is inviting you to Xiangyang for a drink."

Wei Yan??

He thought he had misheard.

"Is it the Lord Liu Xuande whose might shakes the world?"

After receiving a positive reply from the messenger,

Wei Yan trembled with excitement. He hadn't expected Lord Liu Xuande to know that there was a Wei Yan in Yiyang!

Soon, Caiyang City was in an uproar.

Wei Yan, who was arrogant and had always been disliked by the county magistrate, had actually received an invitation from Lord Liu Xuande!

The county magistrate, who had previously looked down on Wei Yan, went directly to Wei Yan's home to offer his congratulations.

Wei Yan's elderly mother was also incredibly excited.

"My son, that is Lord Liu Xuande who has saved countless lives. He thinks highly of you; you must serve Lord Liu Xuande well in the future!"

Wei Yan naturally agreed wholeheartedly, resigned from his position as captain, and headed to Xiangyang City with his weapons.

Such scenes were playing out in other parts of Jingzhou as well.

A few days later,

Li Yan, Wei Yan, Xiang Lang, Feng Xi, Huo Jun, and Cui Cui Zhouping arrived at the guesthouse.

Liu Bei naturally entertained them warmly. After three rounds of drinks,

Liu Bei cupped his hands.

"Gentlemen, Jingzhou is a place of outstanding people. You are all the best among talents. I would like to invite you all to serve in Guanzhong."

Li Yan, Wei Yan, Huo Jun, Xiang Lang, and others cupped their hands one after another.

"We are willing to follow Lord Liu Xuande's orders!"

Liu Bei immediately appointed Li Yan as the Magistrate of Lantian,

Wei Yan, Huo Jun, and Zhang Liang Xi as captains,

and Xiang Lang and Cui Cui Zhouping as clerks in the General of the Flying Cavalry's mansion, and so on.

Huo Jun's brother, Huo Du, was a captain under Liu Biao, and he himself was only a subordinate who could leave at any time, which also avoided making Liu Biao sad again.

Liu Bei drank and ate meat with everyone that night, talking by candlelight, making everyone admire him wholeheartedly!

When Liu Biao heard about this, he didn't know what to say. Liu Bei had stayed in Xiangyang to save his wife, and he was just taking a few minor figures to serve in Guanzhong; he really couldn't say anything.

"Captain? Minor officer? How does this Liu Bei think these people can become talents?"

However, Xiang Lang and Cui Cui Zhouping defecting to Liu Bei still made Liu Biao unhappy.

Over the next few days,

the talents Liu Bei recruited were all eating and drinking at the guesthouse.

Wei Yan soon won the respect of Zhang Fei and Taishi Ci. For no other reason than that he could fight!

Li Yan was skilled in both civil and military affairs; he could chat with Guo Jia, Pang Tong, and others in civil matters,

and in military matters, he could also exchange a few blows with Zhang Fei and Taishi Ci.

On this day, a special guest came to the guesthouse:

Liu Biao's strategist, Cai Mao!

— Author's Notes —

0 ······Seeking flowers····· ·······